Subject
Obsidian Sourcing, Island Southeast Asia (ISEA), Geochemical Research, Distribution Systems, Archaeological Discoveries, Luzon, Cebu, Sulawesi, Flores, West Java, South Sumatra, Mindoro, East Java, Borneo, East Timor, Quaternary Volcanism, Balobok Rock Shelter, Sanga Sanga Island, Archaeology, Geological Studies, Artifact Analysis

Domains
Archéologie, Anthropologie, Sciences Sociales, Sciences humaines

Description

This paper summarises research on obsidian findings across the region of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA), from the first reporting of obsidian on Sumatra as a result of cave excavations in the early 1900s through to the latest published discoveries in 2009. These results are the background for the first region-wide research project focussing on obsidian characterisation and its role in prehistoric inter-island exchange. It is commonly held that distribution of obsidian in ISEA was only localised and inter-island transportation limited. The review, however, suggests that this hypothesis derives from an incomplete knowledge of obsidian distribution in the region rather than typifying prehistoric social patterns. Obsidian sourcing has been carried out only intermittently in ISEA since the 1970s and has generally been focussed only at the single site level, thus explaining this very partial understanding.

Keywords
Island Southeast Asia, Obsidian, Sourcing, LA-ICPMS

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Reepmeyer Christian, Spriggs Matthew, Anggraeni, Lape Peter, Neri Leee, Ronquillo P. Wilfredo, Simanjuntak Truman, Summerhayes Glenn, Tanudirjo Daud, Tiauzon Archie

Contributors

Sources
Journal of Archaeological Science, 38(11), 2873-2881.

Relation
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2011.06.015
http://hdl.handle.net/1885/70543

Coverage
Island Southeast Asia, Luzon, Cebu, Sulawesi, Flores, West Java, South Sumatra, Mindoro, East Java, Borneo, East Timor, Balobok Rock Shelter, Sanga Sanga Island

Name of newspaper
Journal of Archaeological Science